Nikolas Kozloff

Jan 14, 2012 8:11 AM EST

I agree that the polar opposites the leftist in Latin America and the theocratic thugs in Iran have will cause these relationships to be short lived, but we really have ourselves to blame for these countries going towards regimes like Iran.

- John Durandal

Jan 14, 2012 9:56 AM EST

Well, I'm not sure I agree with the notion of "ourselves to blame." I didn't put Bush or Obama into power, nor do I make policy. Secondly, I don't think you can pin everything that happens on U.S. imperialism --- this is a frequent mindset of the American left which can get you into murky territory.

- Nikolas Kozloff

Jan 14, 2012 10:03 AM EST

Don't take things so personally. I meant the US in "we" not you or me specifically. I don't pin everything on U.S. imperialism, I just understand when you arm bloodthirsty insurgents to literally ravish a country and destroy it, that country would team up with Darth Vader if he was anti-american. I don't think you understand reactionary behavior.

- John Durandal

Jan 14, 2012 10:06 AM EST

I mean look at Iran for the perfect example of reactionary behavior. The Islamic theocracy came to power because of its opposition to the Shah, a US installed dictator who was extremely brutal. If you want to prevent such people from coming to power and making allies, you have to understand why such things are happening, not just condemn it.

- John Durandal

Jan 14, 2012 6:52 PM EST

I don't take it personally, but occasionally people accuse me of not being sufficiently anti-imperialist which I always find really perverse. Truly, I think you have the wrong person here in light of the amount of time I have devoted to this line of argument. If there is anyone else on the circuit who has criticized U.S. imperialism and its effects throughout the world, then please name him or her.

- Nikolas Kozloff